Mary-Ann Weber Turns the Self-Portrait Into a Space of Experimentation

Berlin-based photographer Mary-Ann Weber, known online as foto.maedchen, places herself on both sides of the lens in a self-portrait practice where body, light and shadow serve as instruments of self-narration. Before committing to photography, she trained in media design and worked as a television editor for major broadcasters; the medium has since become an integral part of her daily life. Her approach carries a notable freedom: each frame functions as an occasion to observe herself from a different vantage point, without pressure to arrive at a definitive version of the self. In her own words, self-portraits amount to far more than a simple picture of oneself — they are a means of truly seeing oneself, rediscovering who one is and silencing insecurities. Beyond personal projects, Weber produces portraits for others, publishes guides on photography and post-production, and develops Lightroom presets, making her experience and visual approach available to a wider audience. That output binds practice to research while keeping photography at the center of everything. Her work is documented at mary-studio.de and on Instagram at @foto.maedchen.